Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has signed legislation that gives political appointees authority over the Memphis-Shelby County school district.
Chalkbeat Tennessee reports the new law enables the state to seize control of the state's largest school district through a nine-person oversight board appointed by the state’s top three Republicans, including the governor.
Supporters of the takeover have argued that student progress in the district is unacceptably stagnant after years of academic underperformance.
The oversight board will have nearly unlimited power to dive into district records, from teacher evaluations to curriculum reviews. It also will control the district’s largest financial decisions, the operating budget, and superintendent’s contract. Its power even extends to the Shelby County Commission, which will be blocked from approving the district's annual budget until the oversight board approves.
After signing the legisltion Lee announced five appointees to the board.
One of those is Dorsey Hopson, who served as Memphis-Shelby County superintendent from 2013 to early 2019.
The other four appointees are Shanea McKinney, who is a member of the University of Tennessee’s board of trustees; Nisha Powers, who has served on the Tennessee board of regents; Beverly Robertson, former president and CEO of the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce; and Tyrone Burroughs, who sits on the Tennessee Lottery Commission.
The oversight board must begin its work by July 1. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally and House Speaker Cameron Sexton, both Republicans, get two picks each in addition to Lee’s appointments.
